Looking for a replacement for Igor Tudor to occupy the sidelines of Olympique de Marseille for next season, Pablo Longoria is going all over the place.
Last year, when Jorge Sampaoli decided to leave Marseille on the day of the resumption of training, Pablo Longoria did not take long to find him a successor. At the same time, there was an urgent need for OM players not to return to training without a coach. A year later, the president of Marseille finds himself in the same situation, without an appointed coach for the recovery, knowing that Igor Tudor has decided to leave his post at the end of the last exercise. But unlike 2022, Longoria wants to take its time before choosing the right candidate.
He wants to meet all the main candidates, just to feel the best feeling with the future elected. With the help of Javier Ribalta, director of football for OM, the Marseille president is multiplying the leads, and in particular in Spain. Except that in all likelihood, Marcelino and Andoni Iraola, coach of Rayo Vallecano, will not arrive in Marseille despite a certain proximity with the Olympian management.
Galtier, Gallardo… Longoria still hesitates
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But then who will OM be able to turn to? If the Christophe Galtier file is well under study at the Vélodrome, despite the fact that the former Lille coach comes out of a complicated experience at PSG, the hottest name of the moment seems to be that of Marcelo Gallardo. According to RMC, “contacts and exchanges have already taken place recently between the Argentine coach, his representative and OM”. Keen to coach a European club after winning everything at River Plate, the Argentinian clearly has the profile and character to please Marseille fans. Except that Gallardo also discusses with Monaco and Spanish clubs. Suffice to say that Longoria will have to play it smart if he wants to bring the former PSG midfielder to Marseille, especially since he will demand a big salary, very specific recruits and many guarantees.
Not sure that Longoria can meet all these requirements, but the president of OM will do his best to bring in the best coach possible to allow OM to pursue the quest for a trophy next season. The Spaniard has in any case decided to take his time, which is not really in his habits. But regardless of the future Marseille coach, the latter will also have to adapt to the rhythm of Pablo Longoria, who leads the transfer window from A to Z without really caring about the coach’s opinion.
